The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Get Happy

The song of the day for Saturday, September 18, 2021, is “Get Happy.”

About This Song

“Get Happy” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler for the 1930 The Nine-Fifteen Revue, where it was introduced by Ruth Etting. Most people today are more familiar with Judy Garland’s wonderful performance of the in the 1950 movie Summer Stock.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Get Happy” in 1968 for his album Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

Get Happy

Listen to Get Happy on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1968.

“Get Happy,” as well as Yesterday I Heard The Rain is available on Apple Music.

And here’s that wonderful performance by Judy Garland from Summer Stock:

Get Happy - Judy Garland | Summer Stock | Warner Archive

Summer Stock (1950) #WarnerArchive #WarnerBros #SummerStockTo save Jane Falbury"s (Judy Garland) Connecticut farm, Jane"s sister, Abigail (Gloria DeHaven), c...

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Song of the Day: There’ll Be Some Changes Made

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 13, 2021, is “There’ll Be Some Changes Made.”

About This Song

“There’ll Be Some Changes Made” was written in 1921 by Benton Overstreet and Billy Higgins, two African-American vaudeville performers. Ethel Waters had a hit recording of this song in late 1921; other early recordings include those by Marion Harris, Josie Miles, Fats Waller, and the Chicago Rhythm Kings. Later recordings include those by Billy Holiday, Peggy Lee and Tony Bennett. Even western singers have been drawn to the song by artists including Chet Atkins, Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, and Pee Wee Russell’s Rhythmakers.

At 100 years, this song is in no way dated.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “There’ll Be Some Changes Made” in 1975 for the album Tony Bennett Sings “Life Is Beautiful”. Torrie Zito wrote the very effective arrangement. The cover features Bennett’s two daughters: Antonia and Joanna.

There"ll Be Some Changes Made

Listen to There"ll Be Some Changes Made on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2004.

“There’ll Be Some Changes Made,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings “Life Is Beautiful” is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: They Can’t Take That Away From Me

The song of the day for Monday, May 17, 2021, is “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.”

About This Song

“They Can’t Take That Away From Me” was written in 1936 by George and Ira Gershwin for the 1937 Fred Astaire – Ginger Rodgers movie Shall We Dance. Unlike most songs that Astaire introduced in his films, there was no dance number associated with “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.” It is one of the Gershwins’ finest love songs. George Gershwin died just two months after this film was released.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” in 1967 for his album For Once In My Life. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

They Can"t Take That Away From Me

Listen to They Can"t Take That Away From Me on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1967.

“They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” as well as For Once In My Life, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Hi-Ho

The song of the day for Saturday, May 15, 2021, is “Hi-Ho.”

About This Song

“Hi-Ho” was written in 1936 by George and Ira Gershwin. “Hi-Ho” has been called ‘Gershwin’s least known great song’ by blogger Walter Rimler. It was one of the first songs the Gershwin brothers wrote when they first came to Hollywood and slated for the movie Shall We Dance featuring Fred Astaire dancing in the streets of Paris. The song was cut due to concerns over the costs for filming the sequence. The song faded from then and was only published in 1967. Tony Bennett’s was the first recording of this song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Hi-Ho” in 1968 for his album Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

Hi-Ho

Listen to Hi-Ho on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1968.

“Hi-Ho,” as well as Yesterday I Heard The Rain, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Sweet Georgie Fame

The song of the day for Saturday, April 17, 2021, is “Sweet Georgie Fame.”

About This Song

“Sweet Georgie Fame” was written in 1967 Blossom Dearie and Sandra Harris. Dearie told The New York Times in 1981 “I was in London in 1966, when a bass player told me I should go hear the skiffle, rock, blues and jazz singer Georgie Fame, He said I’d like him, and I did – very much. Then I was visiting a friend, where Georgie Fame’s records were on, and her kids were dancing to them. I got a melody from that, and my friend’s sister, Sandra Black (Harris) wrote words to it.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Sweet Georgie Fame” in 1968 for his album Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

Sweet Georgie Fame

Listen to Sweet Georgie Fame on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1968.

“Sweet Georgie Fame,” as well as Yesterday I Heard Rain, is available from Apple Music.

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